Disarming Continues In East Tajikistan

The process of disarming groups in eastern Tajikistan is continuing, with fighters handing over some 300 weapons so far.

Tajik Interior Ministry spokesman Makhmadullo Asadulloev said that, as of 8 a.m. on August 3, the fighters who battled security forces on July 24 had handed over ordnance that included 50 "heavy" weapons such as rockets and even mortars.

The fighters agreed to disarm as part of a deal to end hostilities, which left around 70 people dead, some 20 of them civilians.

The fighting started after members of the illegally-armed groups killed a senior security official visiting the eastern Badakhshan region on July 21.

Asadulloev did not mention if the fighters had agreed to hand over four people suspected of involvement in the killing of the security official.